{"id":11058,"date":"2023-10-06T11:44:55","date_gmt":"2023-10-06T11:44:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/?p=11058"},"modified":"2024-11-29T08:38:51","modified_gmt":"2024-11-29T08:38:51","slug":"greenwashing-examples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/greenwashing-examples\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Famous Greenwashing Examples And How To Spot Them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The \u201call-natural\u201d products you buy aren\u2019t always all-natural. That\u2019s called greenwashing \u2013 a deceptive marketing practice that is widespread in every industry and sector. Let\u2019s take a look at some greenwashing examples from recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Being aware of its signs and examples will help us spot corporate tricks more easily and protect ourselves from greenwashing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is Greenwashing?<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-essential-blocks-table-of-contents\"><div class=\"eb-parent-wrapper eb-parent-eb-toc-2mz5a \"><div class=\"eb-toc-container eb-toc-2mz5a eb-toc-sticky-right eb-toc-is-sticky eb-toc-collapsible eb-toc-initially-not-collapsed eb-toc-scrollToTop style-1 list-style-none\" data-scroll-top=\"false\" data-scroll-top-icon=\"fas fa-angle-up\" data-collapsible=\"true\" data-sticky-hide-mobile=\"false\" data-sticky=\"true\" data-scroll-target=\"scroll_to_toc\" data-copy-link=\"false\" data-editor-type=\"\" data-hide-desktop=\"false\" data-hide-tab=\"false\" data-hide-mobile=\"false\" data-itemCollapsed=\"false\"><div class=\"eb-toc-header\"><span class=\"eb-toc-close eb-toc-sticky-right\"><\/span><div class=\"eb-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/div><\/div><div class=\"eb-toc-wrapper \" data-headers=\"[{&quot;level&quot;:2,&quot;content&quot;:&quot;What Is Greenwashing?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;What Is Greenwashing?&quot;,&quot;link&quot;:&quot;what-is-greenwashing&quot;},{&quot;level&quot;:2,&quot;content&quot;:&quot;10 Examples Of Greenwashing From Big Cooperate&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;10 Examples Of Greenwashing From Big Cooperate&quot;,&quot;link&quot;:&quot;10-examples-of-greenwashing-from-big-cooperate&quot;},{&quot;level&quot;:3,&quot;content&quot;:&quot;IKEA: Illegal Logging\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;IKEA: Illegal Logging\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;link&quot;:&quot;eb-table-content-2&quot;},{&quot;level&quot;:3,&quot;content&quot;:&quot;H&amp;M: Fast Fashion\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;H&amp;M: Fast Fashion\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;link&quot;:&quot;eb-table-content-3&quot;},{&quot;level&quot;:3,&quot;content&quot;:&quot;Shell: Misleading Message&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Shell: Misleading Message&quot;,&quot;link&quot;:&quot;shell-misleading-message&quot;},{&quot;level&quot;:3,&quot;content&quot;:&quot;Unilever: Vague Environmental Claim\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Unilever: Vague Environmental Claim\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;link&quot;:&quot;eb-table-content-5&quot;},{&quot;level&quot;:3,&quot;content&quot;:&quot;FIFA: Qatar World Cup\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;FIFA: Qatar World Cup\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;link&quot;:&quot;eb-table-content-6&quot;},{&quot;level&quot;:3,&quot;content&quot;:&quot;Volkswagen: Emission Test\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Volkswagen: Emission Test\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;link&quot;:&quot;eb-table-content-7&quot;},{&quot;level&quot;:3,&quot;content&quot;:&quot;Nestl\\u00e9: False Claim&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Nestl\\u00e9: False Claim&quot;,&quot;link&quot;:&quot;eb-table-content-8&quot;},{&quot;level&quot;:3,&quot;content&quot;:&quot;Coca-Cola: World Without Waste Campaign\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Coca-Cola: World Without Waste Campaign\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;link&quot;:&quot;eb-table-content-9&quot;},{&quot;level&quot;:3,&quot;content&quot;:&quot;Starbucks: Strawless Lid&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Starbucks: Strawless Lid&quot;,&quot;link&quot;:&quot;starbucks-strawless-lid&quot;},{&quot;level&quot;:3,&quot;content&quot;:&quot;McDonald\\u2019s: Paper Straw\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;McDonald\\u2019s: Paper Straw\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;link&quot;:&quot;eb-table-content-11&quot;},{&quot;level&quot;:2,&quot;content&quot;:&quot;How Can You Spot Greenwashing?\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;How Can You Spot Greenwashing?\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;link&quot;:&quot;eb-table-content-12&quot;},{&quot;level&quot;:3,&quot;content&quot;:&quot;Common Greenwashing Tricks&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Common Greenwashing Tricks&quot;,&quot;link&quot;:&quot;common-greenwashing-tricks&quot;},{&quot;level&quot;:3,&quot;content&quot;:&quot;What To Look Out For?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;What To Look Out For?&quot;,&quot;link&quot;:&quot;what-to-look-out-for&quot;},{&quot;level&quot;:2,&quot;content&quot;:&quot;Conclusion&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Conclusion&quot;,&quot;link&quot;:&quot;conclusion&quot;}]\" data-visible=\"[true,true,true,true,true,true]\" data-delete-headers=\"[{&quot;label&quot;:&quot;What Is Greenwashing?&quot;,&quot;value&quot;:&quot;what-is-greenwashing&quot;,&quot;isDelete&quot;:true},{&quot;label&quot;:&quot;10 Examples Of Greenwashing From Big Cooperate&quot;,&quot;value&quot;:&quot;10-examples-of-greenwashing-from-big-cooperate&quot;,&quot;isDelete&quot;:true},{&quot;label&quot;:&quot;IKEA: Illegal Logging\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;value&quot;:&quot;ikea-illegal-logging&quot;,&quot;isDelete&quot;:true},{&quot;label&quot;:&quot;H&amp;M: Fast Fashion\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;value&quot;:&quot;hm-fast-fashion&quot;,&quot;isDelete&quot;:true},{&quot;label&quot;:&quot;Shell: Misleading Message&quot;,&quot;value&quot;:&quot;shell-misleading-message&quot;,&quot;isDelete&quot;:true},{&quot;label&quot;:&quot;Unilever: Vague Environmental Claim\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;value&quot;:&quot;unilever-vague-environmental-claim&quot;,&quot;isDelete&quot;:true},{&quot;label&quot;:&quot;FIFA: Qatar World Cup\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;value&quot;:&quot;fifa-qatar-world-cup&quot;,&quot;isDelete&quot;:true},{&quot;label&quot;:&quot;Volkswagen: Emission Test\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;value&quot;:&quot;volkswagen-emission-test&quot;,&quot;isDelete&quot;:true},{&quot;label&quot;:&quot;Nestl\\u00e9: False Claim&quot;,&quot;value&quot;:&quot;nestl\\u00e9-false-claim&quot;,&quot;isDelete&quot;:true},{&quot;label&quot;:&quot;Coca-Cola: World Without Waste Campaign\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;value&quot;:&quot;coca-cola-world-without-waste-campaign&quot;,&quot;isDelete&quot;:true},{&quot;label&quot;:&quot;Starbucks: Strawless Lid&quot;,&quot;value&quot;:&quot;starbucks-strawless-lid&quot;,&quot;isDelete&quot;:true},{&quot;label&quot;:&quot;McDonald\\u2019s: Paper Straw\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;value&quot;:&quot;mcdonalds-paper-straw&quot;,&quot;isDelete&quot;:true},{&quot;label&quot;:&quot;How Can You Spot Greenwashing?\\u00a0&quot;,&quot;value&quot;:&quot;how-can-you-spot-greenwashing&quot;,&quot;isDelete&quot;:true},{&quot;label&quot;:&quot;Common Greenwashing Tricks&quot;,&quot;value&quot;:&quot;common-greenwashing-tricks&quot;,&quot;isDelete&quot;:true},{&quot;label&quot;:&quot;What To Look Out For?&quot;,&quot;value&quot;:&quot;what-to-look-out-for&quot;,&quot;isDelete&quot;:true},{&quot;label&quot;:&quot;Conclusion&quot;,&quot;value&quot;:&quot;conclusion&quot;,&quot;isDelete&quot;:true}]\" data-smooth=\"true\" data-top-offset=\"\"><div class=\"eb-toc__list-wrap\"><ul class='eb-toc__list'><li><a href=\"#what-is-greenwashing\">What Is Greenwashing?<\/a><li><a href=\"#10-examples-of-greenwashing-from-big-cooperate\">10 Examples Of Greenwashing From Big Cooperate<\/a><ul class='eb-toc__list'><li><a href=\"#eb-table-content-2\">IKEA: Illegal Logging\u00a0<\/a><li><a href=\"#eb-table-content-3\">H&amp;M: Fast Fashion\u00a0<\/a><li><a href=\"#shell-misleading-message\">Shell: Misleading Message<\/a><li><a href=\"#eb-table-content-5\">Unilever: Vague Environmental Claim\u00a0<\/a><li><a href=\"#eb-table-content-6\">FIFA: Qatar World Cup\u00a0<\/a><li><a href=\"#eb-table-content-7\">Volkswagen: Emission Test\u00a0<\/a><li><a href=\"#eb-table-content-8\">Nestl\u00e9: False Claim<\/a><li><a href=\"#eb-table-content-9\">Coca-Cola: World Without Waste Campaign\u00a0<\/a><li><a href=\"#starbucks-strawless-lid\">Starbucks: Strawless Lid<\/a><li><a href=\"#eb-table-content-11\">McDonald\u2019s: Paper Straw\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><li><a href=\"#eb-table-content-12\">How Can You Spot Greenwashing?\u00a0<\/a><ul class='eb-toc__list'><li><a href=\"#common-greenwashing-tricks\">Common Greenwashing Tricks<\/a><li><a href=\"#what-to-look-out-for\">What To Look Out For?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><li><a href=\"#conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/ul><\/div><\/div><button class=\"eb-toc-button  eb-toc-button-right\"><div>Table of Contents<\/div><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Greenwashing is when companies make false or misleading claims about the environmental benefits of their product or service. <strong>It is a way of pretending to be sustainable without actually being sustainable<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At its simplest, greenwashing can be subtle packaging tricks. Think of the juice box with images of a green farm and juicy fruits. While it\u2019s not making any claims, it can still imply the natural, fresh, and healthy sense.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But greenwashing can also have more serious and lasting effects than just simple packaging and misleading ads. Large-scale greenwashing can influence culture and shape our behavior on a subconscious level. <strong>How many of us to this day still believe that carrots are good for our eyes?<\/strong> What if I tell you that belief originated from a British campaign during World War II?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"497\" height=\"611\" src=\"http:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/carrot-propaganda.jpg\" alt=\"carrot propaganda\" class=\"wp-image-11065\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/carrot-propaganda.jpg 497w, https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/carrot-propaganda-244x300.jpg 244w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 497px) 100vw, 497px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Carrots are good for your eyes is a food myth from a WWII campaign<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The campaign was designed to hide the fact that the British Royal Air Force had developed a secret radar technology that helped them shoot down enemy planes at night. Also, it was a method to encourage people to eat more carrots, which were cheap and abundant at the time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although this is not an example of greenwashing per se, it shows how a propaganda campaign from WWII can affect consumers\u2019 behavior even today. To be more conscious consumers, we need to equip ourselves with the right knowledge and skills to avoid being greenwashed by corporations. One of the best ways to do that is to learn from real greenwashing case studies.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10 Examples Of Greenwashing From Big Cooperate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IKEA: Illegal Logging&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ikea-greenwashing.png\" alt=\"ikea greenwashing\" class=\"wp-image-11071\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ikea-greenwashing.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ikea-greenwashing-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ikea-greenwashing-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-black-color\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ikea.tenereteam.com\/go\/sMWTxr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">IKEA<\/a><\/mark><\/strong>, the world\u2019s biggest wood consumer, has more than doubled its timber use in the past decade. However, a recent investigation by Earthsight revealed that some of IKEA\u2019s beechwood chairs came from illegally logged forests in Ukraine\u2019s Carpathian region.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What makes this case even more shocking is that the <strong>Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified the illegal timber<\/strong>. This exposes the flaws and lack of transparency in the FSC system, which Earthsight claims is not an isolated problem.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite this scandal, IKEA still ranks among the best in the world for its sustainability efforts, and FSC is still the gold standard of forest certification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">H&amp;M: Fast Fashion&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/hm-greenwashing.png\" alt=\"h&amp;m greenwashing\" class=\"wp-image-11069\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/hm-greenwashing.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/hm-greenwashing-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/hm-greenwashing-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A 2021 report from the Changing Markets Foundation revealed a shocking level of greenwashing among major high-street fashion brands. They examined the clothing and the labels of these brands and found that 60% of their claims were misleading. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/hm.tenereteam.com\/go\/Y4qIw4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-black-color\">H&amp;M<\/mark><\/a> was the worst offender, with 96% of their claims failing to meet the standards<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that almost all of H&amp;M\u2019s sustainability claims were nothing but a marketing strategy to lure eco-conscious consumers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, don\u2019t be fooled by vague and catchy words like \u2018conscious\u2019 when you shop at a big retailer like H&amp;M. Chances are, they are lying to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Shell: Misleading Message<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/shells-controversial-tweet.png\" alt=\"shell's controversial tweet\" class=\"wp-image-11075\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/shells-controversial-tweet.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/shells-controversial-tweet-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/shells-controversial-tweet-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Shell is one of the biggest polluters in the world, responsible for 1-2% of global CO2 emissions every year from its oil and gas operations. Yet, they had the audacity to ask their Twitter followers what they would \u201cchange to help reduce emissions\u201d. Seriously?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The tweet backfired spectacularly, attracting only 199 votes but thousands of angry replies, including from celebrities like Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Greta Thunberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was a blatant case of greenwashing, but Shell got a taste of justice when a European court ordered them to cut their emissions by 45% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. This was a historic ruling, as it was <strong>the first time a private company was legally bound to reduce its emissions<\/strong> by a specific amount and deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>But that\u2019s not all<\/strong>. Shell also faced another greenwashing scandal that took a year to resolve. In June 2022, they launched a campaign to promote their clean energy business in Bristol and the UK, with misleading claims about their renewable electricity and e-vehicle charging stations. For example, they claimed that \u201cIn the South West 78,000 homes use 100% renewable electricity from Shell Energy\u201d, while hiding the fact that it came from the National Grid in small print.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Adfree Cities, a campaign group, complained to the ASA, arguing that the ads failed to disclose Shell\u2019s total environmental impact. Shell does invest in clean energy, but it also emitted 1.2 billion tonnes of CO2 last year and plans to increase their oil and gas production. Their net-zero target is set for 2050, which is too little too late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The ASA finally banned the campaign a year after it started, but the damage was done. We need stricter regulations to stop fossil fuel companies from lying to us about their green credentials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What else are you hiding, Shell?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Unilever: Vague Environmental Claim&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/unilever-greenwash.png\" alt=\"unilever greenwash\" class=\"wp-image-11077\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/unilever-greenwash.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/unilever-greenwash-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/unilever-greenwash-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Persil is a popular cleaning brand by Unilever that has raised quite a few environmental concerns about its product. Unsurprisingly, they tried to appear more eco-friendly by doing the \u201cDirt is Good\u201d ads. However, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned the ad shortly after for <strong>making false claims to be \u2018kinder on the planet\u2019<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The ads showed scenes of people doing eco-friendly actions, such as planting trees or picking up trash, but did not explain how Persil was actually good for the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The ASA found the claims to be \u2018unclear\u2019 and \u2018unsubstantiated\u2019. They asked: kinder on the planet than what? Compared to other laundry detergents, Persil is not very kind at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This case shows that environmental claims need to be backed up by evidence, not just slogans or hashtags.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FIFA: Qatar World Cup&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/fifa-world-cup-controversy.png\" alt=\"fifa world cup controversy\" class=\"wp-image-11066\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/fifa-world-cup-controversy.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/fifa-world-cup-controversy-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/fifa-world-cup-controversy-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>FIFA claimed that its 2022 Qatar World Cup would be carbon-neutral. However, this claim was far from the truth. Carbon Market Watch, a climate watchdog, said that <strong>FIFA underestimated the emissions from the tournament by a large margin<\/strong>. FIFA denied any greenwashing and said it was committed to climate action. But its reputation was damaged by the controversy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Volkswagen: Emission Test&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/volkswagen-emission-test.png\" alt=\"volkswagen emission test\" class=\"wp-image-11078\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/volkswagen-emission-test.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/volkswagen-emission-test-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/volkswagen-emission-test-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Volkswagen, a German car maker, was caught cheating on federal emissions tests in 2015 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The company had installed software in many of its diesel cars that could lower the emissions when tested but <strong>emits up to 40 times more than the EPA limit in normal conditions<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The software was designed to evade environmental regulations and make the cars seem greener than they were. Volkswagen confessed to the fraud and its CEO stepped down after the scandal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nestl\u00e9: False Claim<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/nestle-greenwashing.png\" alt=\"nestl\u00e9 greenwashing\" class=\"wp-image-11074\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/nestle-greenwashing.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/nestle-greenwashing-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/nestle-greenwashing-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Nestl\u00e9 claimed in 2018 that it wanted its packaging to be 100% recyclable or reusable by 2025. However,<strong> the company had no clear goals, plans, or actions to achieve this<\/strong>. Greenpeace accused Nestl\u00e9 of greenwashing and said that its statement was too weak and vague to address the plastic crisis that it created. In 2020, Nestl\u00e9, along with Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, were named the world\u2019s top plastic polluters for the third consecutive year by Break Free From Plastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Coca-Cola: World Without Waste Campaign&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/insignia-mini-fridge.png\" alt=\"coca-cola greenwashing\" class=\"wp-image-11072\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/insignia-mini-fridge.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/insignia-mini-fridge-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/insignia-mini-fridge-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Coca-Cola is the world\u2019s worst plastic polluter, according to Break Free From Plastic\u2019s annual report. In 2020, the company refused to stop using plastic bottles, saying that customers liked them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the company claims that it is working to reduce packaging waste. A spokesperson said that they aim to collect and recycle every bottle by 2030 and that they have introduced bottles with 100% recycled plastic in 18 markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But in June 2021, Earth Island Institute sued Coca-Cola for <strong>falsely advertising itself as sustainable and eco-friendly<\/strong>, despite being the biggest source of plastic pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Starbucks: Strawless Lid<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/starbucks-strawless-lid.png\" alt=\"starbucks strawless lid\" class=\"wp-image-11076\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/starbucks-strawless-lid.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/starbucks-strawless-lid-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/starbucks-strawless-lid-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Starbucks introduced a \u201cstraw-less lid\u201d in 2018 as part of its sustainability drive, but <strong>it actually used more plastic than the old lid and straw<\/strong>. The company said that the lid was made from recyclable plastic, but critics argued that most of the world\u2019s plastic was not recycled and that the US was dumping its recycling problem on poorer countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">McDonald\u2019s: Paper Straw&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/mcdonalds-non-recyclable-paper-straw.png\" alt=\"mcdonald\u2019s non recyclable paper straw\" class=\"wp-image-11073\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/mcdonalds-non-recyclable-paper-straw.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/mcdonalds-non-recyclable-paper-straw-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/mcdonalds-non-recyclable-paper-straw-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image: Sky News&nbsp;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>McDonald\u2019s tried to be more eco-friendly by replacing plastic straws with paper ones, but it turned out to be a greenwashing fail. <strong>The paper straws were not recyclable<\/strong>, because they were too thick to be processed by the recycling machines. The company admitted that the straws had to be thrown away with the general waste, which defeats the purpose of using paper in the first place. McDonald\u2019s said that it was working on a solution, but it faced a lot of criticism and backlash from customers and environmental groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Can You Spot Greenwashing?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Greenwashing is becoming harder to spot. However, media in recent years has paid more attention to this term, giving you a better idea of how to determine which brands are guilty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common Greenwashing Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are some common tricks that greenwashers use to make their products or services seem more sustainable than they are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Vague language<\/strong>: Beware of words that have no legal definition or clear meaning, such as \u2018natural\u2019, \u2018eco-friendly\u2019, \u2018alternative\u2019, or \u2018farm-fresh\u2019.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Irrelevant claims<\/strong>: Don\u2019t be fooled by a minor green feature on an otherwise harmful product. For example, a palm oil product that boasts about its recyclable bottle.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Bad gestures<\/strong>: Watch out for big ideas that sound good but are not based on expert advice. For instance, British supermarket M&amp;S planned to release 30 million honeybees into the wild but had to cancel it when experts warned that it would damage the ecosystems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Misleading numbers<\/strong>: Be careful of percentages that are not backed by facts or context. For example, a label that says \u201850% more recycled content than before!\u2019, when the content has only increased from 2% to 3%.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rebranding<\/strong>: Don\u2019t be seduced by a change in packaging or design that implies sustainability, but does not reflect any real change. For example, coffee beans that switch to brown paper bags, or homeware that uses earthy colors and slogans.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What To Look Out For?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Greenwashing is all about deceiving by using vague words and phrases to redirect customers\u2019 focus from the issue that actually matters. So what should we look out for to know that a brand is faking it?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Accountability<\/strong>: Real sustainable brands are those that are transparent about their environmental performance and publish annual reports and statistics on their websites.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Accreditation<\/strong>: Look for brands that have been verified or certified by independent third parties, such as B Corporation or Fairtrade. For example, Akepa is certified by ClimatePartner, one of the world\u2019s leading climate action companies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/eco-friendly-labels-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Clear eco labeling<\/span><\/a><\/strong>: A simple and to-the-point label that clearly states the origin or ingredients of a product is a good sign of a truly sustainable brand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Traceability<\/strong>: An eco-friendly brand should have a clear and easy way for customers to track their product\u2019s sustainability. For instance, some sustainable fashion brands use QR codes to show you their supply chain.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Greenwashing is losing its appeal, as people want to support brands that are genuinely sustainable. That\u2019s why at Tenere, we are transparent about our donations and how they support environmental causes. You can see how <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/financial-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-black-color\">much we donate<\/mark><\/strong><\/a> and where it goes on our website. We are not just a sustainable business, we are a business for sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hope that these greenwashing examples have given you enough clues to know which businesses to avoid.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The \u201call-natural\u201d products you buy aren\u2019t always all-natural. That\u2019s called greenwashing \u2013 a deceptive marketing practice that is widespread in every industry and sector. Let\u2019s take a look at some greenwashing examples from recent years. Being aware of its signs and examples will help us spot corporate tricks more easily and protect ourselves from greenwashing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":11068,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":""},"categories":[959,954],"tags":[900,964,899],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v17.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>10 Famous Greenwashing Examples And How To Spot Them<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"10 big corporations greenwashing examples: IKEA, Unilever, Volkswagen, Nestl\u00e9,\u2026Find out about the rest and how to spot greenwashing in this article.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/greenwashing-examples\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" 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Hai Long chose to join the Tenereteam blog to share his enthusiasm and knowledge with others."}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11058"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11058"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11058\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14179,"href":"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11058\/revisions\/14179"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11068"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tenereteam.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}